(Photo: (from left) Ethan and CharLee Rogers and Tammy and Neal Harrington stand in front of the new mural in downtown Clarksville.)

A sweeping new mural celebrating the people, places, and pride of Johnson County is adding color and character to downtown Clarksville - the result of a creative collaboration among University of the Ozarks alumni, a recent art graduate, and a pair of seasoned artists.

Stretching 56 feet across the back wall of Curran's Abstract and Title, the vivid outdoor artwork was commissioned by business owners and 2012 Ozarks alumni Ethan and CharLee Rogers. The mural was designed by 2025 art graduate Mirian Miralda and brought to life by Tammy Harrington, professor of art at U of O, and her husband, Neal Harrington, professor of art at Arkansas Tech University.

The 7-foot-tall piece serves as a visual love letter to Johnson County, showcasing its most beloved landmarks - from the Oark Café and Munger-Wilson Memorial Chapel to the Arkansas River, Red Lick Mountain Bike Trails, Johnson County Courthouse, and even a nod to the county's famous peach orchards. Hidden within the vibrant imagery is a subtle tribute to the Rogers' close friend and fellow Ozarks alumnus, Ben Powell (Class of 2000), a Clarksville businessman and avid outdoorsman who passed away earlier this year.

The Rogers have owned and operated Curran's Abstract and Title since 2023. CharLee Rogers said the idea of the mural came about unexpectedly after trees were removed behind their building, revealing a blank canvas ready for transformation.

"I've always liked murals and suddenly we had this wall that we thought would be perfect for a mural," CharLee said. "We thought it would be a great idea to add a little color and Johnson County history to the back of the building."

A downtown revitalization grant from the Clarksville-Johnson County Chamber of Commerce helped fund the project, which became a community effort from start to finish. Miralda, an art and marketing major from Comayagua, Honduras, and recipient of U of O's 2025 Outstanding Student in Art award, collaborated closely with the Rogers to create a design that captured both local landmarks and community spirit.

Painting began in July under the intense Arkansas summer heat. Tammy Harrington, with assistance from her husband Neal, spent more than 200 hours completing the mural - using roughly 10 gallons of paint to bring the design to life just in time to meet the grant's mid-October deadline.

"The middle of the summer wasn't the ideal time to work on it, but the deadline and school schedule made it necessary," Harrington said. "This is by far the largest outdoor mural I've ever done and I learned a lot through the process."

The Rogers say the finished product exceeded their expectations and has already become a conversation piece for locals and visitors alike.

"I love the details in it. It seems like every time we look at it, we discover something new," Ethan said. "It's way above and beyond what we expected."

Topics: Alumni